The Palestine Chronology

In the West Bank, thousands of Israeli settlers with a military escort toured Jabel ‘Aybal in Area B in an effort to assert their claim to the hill near Nablus. Israeli settlers also vandalized an agricultural structure in Ein al-Beida. Elsewhere, Israeli settlers with a military escort attacked Qusra, causing tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Aqabat Jaber refugee camp, injuring 1 with live ammunition and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Hebron, assaulting 1 and firing tear gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces prevented students and teachers from reaching 27 schools in the Masafer Yatta area. Israeli forces also closed the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshippers, citing the Jewish celebration of Sukkot. Meanwhile, Israeli forces erected dirt mounts on 3 roads leading to Sabastia and its Roman ruins, preventing Palestinian travel. Israeli forces also seized 1 tractor in Deir Istiya and 1 car in Khirbet Humsa. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Jenin, Ya’bad, Jalazone refugee camp, and Turmus ‘Ayya. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers were filmed spitting on Christians in the Old City. Israeli settlers also assaulted 1 Palestinian man in Silwan, causing bruises. Israeli forces assaulted 2 Palestinian women at the Chain Gate in the Old City near the Haram al-Sharif compound. 4 Palestinians were arrested in Isawiya and Silwan, including the son of PA governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith. (HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/2; HA, HA, HA 10/3; PCHR 10/5)

Jordan condemned the Israeli settler incursions into the Haram al-Sharif compound. (WAFA 10/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot and injured 2 Palestinians in Qusra. Israeli settlers also stole 70 olive trees saplings in al-Khader. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian during a raid in Beit Umar, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians marking the 29th anniversary of al-Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, injuring 1 with a concussion bomb to his face and others with tear-gas. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Beita and Bayt Dajan, injuring 40 with tear-gas. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with baton rounds. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Rammun, injuring 1 with a baton round, 1 by physical assault, and others with tear gas. Israeli forces also sealed several roads leading to Huwwara. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested during a raid in al-Khader. In East Jerusalem, 3 Palestinians were arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces shot and injured 2 Palestinian protesters near Jabaliya and 2 near Khan Yunis. (AP, HA, HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 2/24; WAFA 2/25; PCHR 3/2; UNOCHA 3/4)

PA prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh met with a delegation of U.S. senators led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in Ramallah. (WAFA 2/24)

Members of GLOW linguistics voted to cancel its plans to hold its 47th conference in Israel after objections to the plan were raised within the organization. Several members had voiced opposition to Israel as a venue due to Israel’s policies in the West Bank. (GLOW 2/24; HA 3/2)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 1 residential tent and vandalized a fence in Khirbet Martaba. Israeli also settlers assaulted 2 Palestinian minors in Qusra, leading to the hospitalization of 1 of them. Israeli forces subsequently violently dispersed Palestinians in Qusra protesting the settler attack, injuring 22 with baton rounds and tear gas. Israeli forces also shot and injured 7 Palestinians with baton rounds during a raid in Jifna; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in Silwad, Ras Karkar, Beit Fajjar, and al-‘Ain refugee camp. In East Jerusalem, dozens of Israeli settlers toured the Haram al-Sharif compound. Israeli forces assaulted and detained 4 Palestinians in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/22; WAFA 5/23; PCHR 5/26; UNOCHA 6/4)

A Jerusalem court overturned an Israeli police decision to bar 3 Jewish people from entering the Haram al-Sharif compound after they violated the ban on praying at the Muslim site. PA president Mahmoud Abbas called the court decision “a grave assault against the historic status quo,” and Jordan said the ruling violates international law. Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett’s office issued a statement saying that there had been no policy change at the Haram al-Sharif compound. Hamas said that the court decision crossed “all red lines and is a dangerous escalation.” Israeli police appealed the decision on 5/23. (AJ, HA, MEMO, REU, TOI 5/22; CNN, HA, JP, MEE, TOI, WAFA 5/23)

The 6 Palestinians who escaped Gilboa prison on 9/6/2021 were sentenced to 5 years in prison for their escape and each fined $1,487. 5 other Palestinian prisoners were sentenced to 4 years for assisting in their escape. (AJ, AP, HA, MEMO, WAFA 5/22)

Hamas imposed a 16.5% tax on 24 products from the West Bank, including bottled water and soft drinks. PA economy minister Khaled al-Osaily called the new taxes “illegal and not permissible within the same nation.” (ALM 6/1)

Hamas and the PA warned Israel, in separate statements, against carrying out the right-wing flag march through East Jerusalem on 5/29. (HA, MEMO 5/22)

Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi, who on 5/19 announced that she was leaving the Israeli government coalition, said she would resume supporting the coalition after meetings with foreign minister Yair Lapid and several mayors. Rinawie Zoabi’s reversal brought the government coalition back to an equal number of Knesset members to that of the opposition. Rinawie Zoabi told her colleagues on 5/19 that she was leaving the coalition due to Israeli attacks on Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif compound and at the funeral for Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. She further stated that the government coalition is not a government of change but a right-wing government. (AP, AX, HA, MEMO, NYT, REU 5/22; HA 5/23)

In Iran, a colonel in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Forces, Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, was assassinated in front of his house in Tehran by 2 people on a motorbike. Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi said on 5/23 that the assassination is being investigated and that Iran will revenge the killing. The New York Times reported later, on 5/25, that Israel had told the U.S. that it was behind the assassination of Khodaei. (AA, AJ, AP, HA, MEE, REU, TOI 5/22; AP, GDN, HA, IN, JP, MEE, REU 5/23; AJ, ALM, AP, HA 5/24; HA, NYT 5/25; HA 5/26; REU 5/29; REU 5/30)

Chairperson of the EU parliament’s relations with Palestine Manu Pineda was forced to cancel a trip to the occupied Palestinian territories with a group of other EU parliamentarians after Israel refused to allow him entry to Israel and his delegation access to Gaza. President of the EU parliament Roberta Metsola said on Twitter that she regretted the decision but that she would continue her visit to Israel. (HA, TOI 5/21; AJ, JP, TOI 5/22; HA, MEMO, WAFA 5/23; MEMO 5/25)

In the West Bank, armed Israeli settlers chanted racist slogans at Palestinians traveling near the entrance of Nabi Salih. Israeli settlers also threw stones at a Palestinian vehicle in the Masafer Yatta area, causing damage to the car. Israeli forces seized 1 tractor in the Jordan Valley. Israeli forces also blocked an agricultural road near Qusra with dirt mounds. Elsewhere, Israeli forces dismantled and seized 2 residential structures in al-Ouja, displacing 12. Israeli forces also raided Bayt Liqya, leading to a confrontation with Palestinians; 3 were injured by rubber-coated bullets and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 32 Palestinians were arrested, including 2 at a checkpoint near Burqa and 30 during late-night raids in Abu Dis, Tuqu‘, Madama, Tell, Kafr al-Labad, Kafr Abbush, Illar, Ya‘bad, Fahma, and Tayba. In East Jerusalem, Israeli settlers led by MK Itamar Ben-Gvir toured Sheikh Jarrah. 1 Palestinian minor was arrested in the Old City. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/23; PCHR, WAFA 3/24; UNOCHA 4/10)

Haaretz reported that declassified material from the Shin Bet revealed that Israel funded and ran the Khaim prison together with the South Lebanon Army in the southern part of Lebanon. The documents revealed that from 1985 to 2000, prisoners in the Khaim prison were tortured and held in indefinite detention without a trial. (HA 3/23)

The Middle East Studies Association passed a resolution endorsing the BDS movement. 768 members voted in favor of the resolution while 167 voted against. (HA 3/23; WAFA 3/24; WAFA 3/25)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces delivered stop-work orders for 22 structures and 1 demolition order for an agricultural shed in Qusra and demolished 1 water well in Ni‘lin. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinians protesting a late-night raid in Bethlehem, causing tear-gas related injuries. 8 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in ‘Anata, Abu Dis, al-Ubeidiya, Jenin, Burqa, and Sabastia. In East Jerusalem, Israeli municipality workers demolished a construction material shop in ‘Anata. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in the Old City. In Gaza, 1 Palestinian merchant was arrested while entering Israel via the Erez crossing. (WAFA 11/29; MEMO 11/30; PCHR 12/2)

PA president Mahmoud Abbas met with Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun in Doha. (WAFA 11/29)

Israel approved using $2.4 billion of its U.S. military aid to purchase 10-15 Lockheed Martin CH-53k helicopters. (ALM, HA 11/29; MEMO 12/3)

Israel and the UK signed a 10-year agreement on cybersecurity, technology, trade, and defense. (HA, MEE, MEMO 11/29)

The new U.S. ambassador to Israel Tom Nides arrived in Jerusalem. Ambassador Nides will not be living in the for U.S. consulate to Palestinians on Agron Street, as former Ambassador David Friedman had partly done, but will be accommodated elsewhere in Jerusalem in a rented property. Former Ambassador Friedman initiated the sale of a U.S.-owned property used as housing for the U.S. ambassador to Israel south of Tel Aviv. (JP 11/29; NYT 12/1; HA 12/2)

Officials from Iran, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the UK met in Vienna for the 1st day of new talks to find an agreement between Iran and the U.S. after the U.S. left it during the Trump administration. This was the 1st meeting since Iran’s new president Ebrahim Raisi was inaugurated in August. (AJ, AP 11/29)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers stole 1 garbage truck belonging to the town council of Qusra. Israeli settlers also uprooted some 300 olive trees in al-Mazra‘a al-Garbieh. European diplomats partook in the olive harvest in Qusra, 1 of the Palestinian areas where Israeli settlers frequently attack Palestinians and their property. 12 Palestinians were arrested during late-night raids in and around Qalqilya, Burin, Tell, Qabatiya, Beit Fajjar, and al-Khader. (MEE, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/21; PCHR 10/28)

2 Israeli settlers, both minors, were indicted for partaking in an attack on Palestinians and their property in Khirbet al-Mufkara on 9/28. The younger of the 2, a 15-year-old, was charged with attempted assault and rioting that damaged property. The older, a 17-year-old, was charged with aggravated assault of a public servant, an Israeli soldier. Palestinian residents said that around 100 settlers raided the village for some 30 minutes. (HA 10/21)

Peace Now reported that Israeli settlers in Hebron had started construction of a new neighborhood that will include 31 housing units near the Old City. Israel’s Higher Planning Committee approved the building permits for the settlement expansion in 2017 but no construction had been allowed as Peace Now and the Hebron municipality sued to have the permits revoked. That petition was rejected recently. Peace Now said they would appeal to the Supreme Court. (PCN, TOI 10/21; WAFA 10/24)

It was reported by Turkish media that Turkey had arrested 15 people on 10/7 for spying on the country for Israel’s intelligence service Mossad. According to reporting, all 15 arrested were Arabs, with at least 7 said to be Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. They had been monitored by Turkish intelligence for a year. (ALM, HA, HA, TOI 10/21; JP, MEMO 10/22; HA 10/25; HA 10/27)

The EU signed an agreement to contribute $105 million to the UNRWA budget. The agreement was made as the EU parliament voted to approve the EU’s continued support of UNRWA. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 10/21)

In the West Bank, 1 Israeli settler shot and killed 1 Palestinian and injured 1 other when the 2 confronted a group of settlers attempting to set fire to their crops near al-Rihiya, south of Hebron; +972 reported that the settlers mutilated the body of the Palestinian man they had shot dead. 10 Palestinians were killed and 209 wounded by Israeli forces throughout the West Bank. The casualties included: 1, and 39 injured during a protest in Shwaika near Tulkarm; several others were reported injured; 1 protester, and 2 injured in Salem; 1 protester in Asira; 1 protester, and 4 injured in Beita; 1 protester, and 18 others injured by live ammunition in Ya‘bad; 1 protester in Marda; 1 protester in Iskaka; 1 protester, and 4 injured in ‘Urif; 1 protester in Jericho; 1 Palestinian at a checkpoint, who allegedly tried to ram Israeli soldiers near Silwad; 148 protesters injured by live ammunition and rubber-coated bullets during protests in and around Dayr Nidham, Bayt Dajan, Bayt Furik, al-Fawar refugee camp, al-Khadir, Salfit, Tayassir, Huwwara, Aqraba, Ni‘lin, Jenin, Qalqilya, Tulkarm, and Qusra. 13 Palestinians were arrested, including 6 during late-night raids in and around Qalandia refugee camp, Bayt Umar, and Sa‘ir; 7 were arrested during protests at the al-Jalama checkpoint near Jenin. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces shot and injured 19 Palestinians using live ammunition, rubber-coated bullets, and sound bomb canisters during protests in and around Shaykh Jarrah, Bayt Hanina, Silwan, and the Old City. 7 Palestinians were arrested during raids in al-Tur, Silwan, and Sur Bahir. In Gaza, 22 Palestinians were killed, including 6 children, and dozens injured, raising the comprehensive death toll since 5/10 from 114 to 136, including 33 children and 2 pregnant women. The casualties included: 9, including 3 children, and 73 injured, including 20 children, in air strikes on buildings in Bayt Lahiya and Bayt Hanun; 4 in an air strike on Gaza City, including 1 child; 3, including 1 child, in air strikes on Jabaliya; 1, and 16 injured, including 2 children, in air strikes on al-Bureij refugee camp; 1, and 1 wounded in an air strike on Abasan; 1 in an air strike while riding a motorbike in Rafah; 1 Palestinian was found dead in rubble from an air strike in Dayr al-Balah on 5/13; 1 Palestinian child succumbed to wounds sustained in an air strike on Gaza City on 5/12; 1 Palestinian succumbed to wounds sustained in an air strike on 5/12 in Bayt Lahiya. Israel also said it had assassinated 3 Hamas operatives, Shadi Abed Al-Hadi, Osama Shehadeh, and Zakaria Zarendah. Israeli air strikes also destroyed an interior ministry building west of Gaza City and 3 poultry farms near Rafah, killing more than 10,000 chickens. Israeli forces also struck the fishing ports in Gaza city and Khan Yunis. Damage to power lines in Gaza was reported, significantly reducing the amount of available electricity. In Israel, Israeli forces killed 2 people after several people crossed from Lebanon into Israel by Metula. Israel also said that 3 rockets were fired at Israel from Syria, with 2 landing in open land in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and 1 in Syria. 2 rockets from Gaza hit 2 houses in Sderot, causing damage and 1 injury. 1 rocket from Gaza lightly injured 1 Israeli driving near Beersheba. Israel barred people from outside of Lydda from entering the city from 4 p.m. and barred all its residents from leaving their homes after 9 p.m. 1 Palestinian-Israeli minor was seriously injured, and another minor lightly injured, after a firebomb was thrown at their house in Jaffa; Israeli police claimed without evidence that it was 2 Palestinian-Israeli men that had thrown the firebomb. Israeli forces were filmed kicking Palestinian-Israeli vehicles traveling in Umm al-Fahm and firing stun grenades at them for no apparent reason. Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian-Israeli minor in Lydda, claiming he tried to throw a firebomb at them. 5 Palestinian-Israelis were arrested in Umm al-Fahm after a fire was ignited at the town’s city hall. 9 Palestinian-Israelis were arrested in ‘Akka. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian-Israeli protesters in Kafr Kana, injuring 28. Israel also told international news outlets that it would conduct a ground invasion of Gaza shortly and then later apologized to the news outlets for providing false information; analysts suspected that Israel used the media outlets to lure Hamas militants into tunnels before heavily bombarding said tunnels; Israel said that dozens were killed in the attack on the tunnels. Israel also shot down 1 drone sent from Gaza. 1 Israeli woman succumbed to injuries sustained after falling while running to a shelter in Neta’im on 5/11, raising the Israeli death toll to 9. In Jordan, some 500 protesters tried to enter the West Bank through the Allenby bridge, but were dispersed by Jordanian forces 3 miles from the border. In Amman, thousands of protesters called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador and ending the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty. (AJ, AJ, AJ, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, NYT, NYT, PCHR, PCHR, REU, REU, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/14; AJ, AP, AP, GDN, HA, HA, HA, PCHR, PCHR 5/15; TOI 5/16; HA 5/19; PCHR 5/20; MEE 5/21; NYT 5/26; +972 6/8; INT 7/15)

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said that 42% of the 119 people who have been killed in the Israeli attack on Gaza, at the time of reporting, were women and children. It also said 830 people had been injured. The UN estimated that 10,000 Palestinians have been internally displaced during the current escalation so far. (AJ, HA 5/14)

Spokesperson for PA president Mahmoud Abbas Nabil Abu Rudeineh said that the silence of the U.S. administration was encouraging Israeli war crimes in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank. (WAFA 5/14)

Morocco sent 40 tons of emergency aid to Palestine and denounced Israel’s aggression toward Palestinians. (HA 5/15)

The U.S. deputy assistant secretary for Israel and Palestinian affairs Hady Amr landed in Tel Aviv in an attempt by the U.S. administration to deescalate the situation. (AX, HA 5/14; HA 5/15)

A letter co-signed by 11 Jewish Democrats in the house of representatives, led by Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), urged the Biden administration to be more active in ending the escalation of violence between Israel and Hamas and to do more to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The 11 members of Congress also expressed concern about the violence in East Jerusalem and urged Israel to halt the “unjust eviction” of Palestinians from their homes in Shaykh Jarrah, and said that the U.S. must address the deepening occupation. (HA 5/15)

Democrats in the House also debated the attack on Gaza on the floor, with 1 group of 11 speaking in defense of Palestinians and 1 group of 10 defending Israel’s actions. (AJ, HA 5/14)

ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said that she will continue with her inquiry into potential war crimes committed by Israelis and Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territories despite Israel’s refusal to cooperate. Chief Prosecutor Bensouda also said that the investigation will include the current escalation of the conflict. (HA, REU 5/14)

The Italian trade union of port workers said that its members in Livorno had refused to load a shipment of weapons and explosives to be shipped to Israel, citing Israel’s attack on Gaza. (AA 5/15; WAFA 5/16; IN 5/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in ‘Ayn al-Bayda, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Umar, leading to tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also seized an excavator in Qusra. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces violently dispersed protesters demonstrating against the planned eviction of Palestinian families from the Shaykh Jarrah neighborhood; 4 were arrested and others were beaten. Israeli forces also set up checkpoints and attacked Christian worshipers making their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City for Holy Saturday. 4 Palestinians were arrested at the Damascus Gate plaza. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces attacked Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya on 2 separate occasions; no injuries were reported. In Gaza, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinians protesting near the Gaza fence using tear gas and live ammunition; no injuries were reported. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 5/1; AJ 5/4; PCHR 5/6)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers uprooted 30 olive, sage, and thyme seedlings and wrote racist graffiti on 1 well and 1 agricultural structure in Qusra. Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters in Bayt Dajan, injuring 1 with live ammunition, 2 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Israeli forces also violently dispersed protests in Kafr Qaddum, injuring 2 with rubber-coated bullets; others suffered tear-gas related injuries. Elsewhere, Israeli forces shot and injured 1 Palestinian man south of Bethlehem, alleging that he tried to stab an Israeli soldier with a broken bottle. Israeli forces also violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against Israeli harassment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, at the Separation wall near Bethlehem, leading to tear-gas related injuries and 2 arrests. Meanwhile, Israeli forces violently dispersed Palestinian protesters demonstrating against Israeli harassment of Palestinians in East Jerusalem, at a checkpoint in Jenin, 1 minor was injured by live ammunition and others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 5 Palestinians were arrested, including 3 during late-night raids in Bethlehem, and 2 at checkpoints near Jenin and Yatta. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces raided the Damascus Gate plaza dispersing Palestinians in the area; 1 Palestinian minor was reportedly beaten by Israeli police before he was arrested. 1 other Palestinian minor was arrested in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire at Palestinian farmers east of Bayt Hanun; no injuries were reported. Israeli forces also opened fire and fired tear gas at Palestinian protesters east of Khan Yunis; no injuries were reported. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire at Palestinian fishermen within 4 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. (HA, WAFA, WAFA 4/30; PCHR 5/6)

Chief of Mossad Yossi Cohen met with U.S. president Joe Biden as he and other Israeli senior officials tried lobby the U.S. not to reenter the Iran nuclear deal. Cohen and Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. Gilad Erdan also met with U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken on 4/29. (AJ, HA 4/29; ALM 4/30; HA 5/1; AJ, JP 5/3)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to wheat fields in Burin and Qusra. Israeli settlers also razed land in Qusra to build a road between 2 Israeli settlements. Israeli forces seized 5 bulldozers and stone-extracting equipment in a quarry near Ramallah. 5 Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces using rubber-coated bullets during a confrontation in Kafr ‘Aqab, others suffered tear-gas related injuries. 2 Palestinians were arrested during a late-night raid in Dura. In East Jerusalem, Israeli forces delivered a demolition notice for 1 Palestinian-owned home in al-Sawahara and demolished 1 shack and 2 shops near al-Sawahara al-Sharqiyya. 11 Palestinians were arrested during raids in and around Silwan, the Old City, al-Tur, and Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen within 3 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; no injuries were reported. In Israel, a court in Tel Aviv temporarily halted construction of a homeless shelter on a Muslim cemetery in Jaffa after a week of protests. When Jaffa residents and the local Islamic council presented the order to Israeli police, they were violently dispersed and several Palestinian activists were arrested. (HA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 6/17; PCHR 6/18)

Jordanian King Abdullah II told U.S. congressional leaders and committees via video conference that Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank is unacceptable and will undermine stability and peace. He further stated that peace will only come with the creation of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. (REU 6/16, HA 6/17)

In the West Bank, Israeli forces handed stop-work notices to Palestinians near Tubas installing solar panels donated to them by an NGO in Italy; and closed the entrances to Qusra. Israeli forces also opened fire at Palestinian farmers near Tulkarm, leading to clashes; tear-gas related injuries were reported. Israeli settlers damaged 10 olive trees and 40 grape trees in al-Khadir. Separately, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian shepherds south of Hebron. 1 Palestinian was arrested during a house raid in Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 6 Palestinians were arrested in raids in and around the Old City and Issawiyya. Off the coast of Gaza, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian fishermen 2 nautical miles west of Bayt Lahiya; 1 boat was damaged, but no injuries were reported. In Israel, 1 Palestinian prisoner set fire to a room used by Israeli guards in Nafha prison in defiance of Israeli measures against spreading the COVID-19 virus in Israel, such as sending most prison doctors and nurses home. (WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA, WAFA 3/25; PCHR 3/27)

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers razed Palestinian-owned tracts of land in Qusra, using bulldozers. 8 Palestinians were arrested, including 5 during late-night raids in and around Tulkarm, al-Bireh, Jenin, and Jericho; 3, all minors, were arrested after allegedly throwing stones at Israeli forces near Qalqilya. In East Jerusalem, 3 were arrested during late-night raids in the Old City. In Gaza, Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinian agricultural lands east of Khan Yunis and east of Rafah; no injuries were reported. (WAFA 3/1; PCHR 3/5)

In the Gaza Strip, IDF troopsstationed along the border arrest 2 Palestinians attempting to enter Israel. In the West Bank, IDF troops enter e. Nablus on a raid and clash with Palestinians, injuring 3 with live ammunition and tear gas. IDF troops enter an area e. of Yatta nr. Hebron and seize a tractor and 4 water tanks; demolish several mobile homes in a village e. of Ramallah; deliver stop-work notes to several construction sites nr. Jericho and demolition notices for 6 wells in Qusra village in the n. West Bank, where Israeli settlers later attack Palestinian property; 2 of the settlers are detained. Separately, around 100 settlers from Adi Ad gather nr. al-Mughir village, but IDF troops intervene before they can attack the residents. In East Jerusalem, Israeli security forces enter Jabal Mukabir to deliver demolition orders to the homes of the Palestinians who attacked a synagogue and were killed on 11/18, then raid a mourning tent set up for them; 5 Palestinians are injured in the ensuing clashes. There are further clashes in Abu Dis, and 37 Palestinians are injured. In Sur al-Bahir, Silwan, and al-Tur, undercover Israeli military officers raid multiple homes, sparking more clashes; approximately 35 Palestinians suffer effects of tear gas inhalation and 12 are injured with rubber-coated metal bullets. Israeli security forces also conduct arrest raids on several homes in the Old City. Late at night, 4 Israeli girls from Yitzhar settlement in the West Bank attack a Palestinian taxi driver with pepper spray. (IMEMC, MNA, WAFA 11/20; MNA 11/21; PCHR 11/27)

Israel’s FM announces that it will return its amb. to Sweden on 11/29, after Amb. Isaac Bachman was recalled in the wake of Sweden’s recognition of Palestine as a state on 10/30. (JP, YA 11/20)

After meeting with UK Foreign Secy. Philip Hammond in London, U.S. Secy. of State Kerry travels to Paris for meetings with French FM Laurent Fabius and Saudi FM Saud al-Faisal, then to Vienna to join the P5+1 negotiating team ahead of the 11/24 deadline. Meanwhile, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano, calls on Iran to increase its cooperation with the agency, saying that the govt. has not been transparent about some aspects of its research. (AP, NYT, REU, TOI 11/20)

Undercover Israeli police officers arrest 6 Palestinian youths in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem on suspicion of throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at a Jewish settler-owned house. In the Gaza Strip, the IDF opens fire on a garbage truck close to the border fence nr. Bayt Hanun, wounding 1 Palestinian. In the West Bank, Jewish settlers from the unauthorized outpost Esh Kodesh nr. Nablus attack the Palestinian village of Qusra, provoking clashes with residents. In response, the IDF deploys troops in the area and fires tear gas and stun grenades at villagers. The IDF patrols in 1 village nr. Tulkarm in the morning, in 1 village nr. Jericho in the afternoon, and in 2 villages nr. Ramallah, 1 village each nr. al-Bireh and Jericho at night; conducts house searches and arrest raids in the Old City of Hebron, 1 nearby village, and 1 village nr. Jenin at night. The IDF attacks a nonviolent demonstration against the occupation and settlement expansion held by Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals in Bayt Umar village nr. Hebron, causing no serious injuries. (MNA 1/5, 1/6; PCHR 1/10)

PA security forces arrest the Hebronbased members of the National Unity Brigades, which announced its formation and called for a 3d intifada in a video released on 12/14. (JP 1/5)

Sources tell Palestinian Ma‘an news agency that PLO leaders, the Free Syria Army, and Syrian government forces are working toward a deal to end the fighting in and blockade of Yarmuk r.c. in Damascus, including the withdrawal of rebel fighters and the end to army shelling. (MNA 1/6)